January 27, 2015

There are no hard and fast rules for the use of prepositions. Why a
certain preposition is used before / after a word is purely a matter
of usage. Constant reading alone can be of help in the use of
prepositions. There are only rules which say which preposition can be
used before / after a word. The following are the points of usage of
certain prepositions.

On:

a) Before days of the week (Monday, Tuesday, etc., the Ist of last
month, on the 25th etc.)
b) Before rivers to indicate their banks - Vijayawada is on the
Krishna; on bus / train (Something happening). Eg: There was a quarrel
between two passengers on the bus / train / on the ship, etc.
c) on the TV / radio (programmes)
d) on something - on the table / wall / table etc.
e) sides - on the right / left / the Ist floor, etc.
f) before all topless modes of travel: on horseback / elephant /on foot

In:

a) Before months / years / seasons (in January / in 2014 / in spring,
summer etc.)
b) before parts of the day - in the morning / the evening / in the
night (at night) , in the afternoon, etc.
c) at the end of a period - in an hour / in a year, etc.
d) a place - in the room, in the class,
e) before big and important cities - in Vijayawada, Hyderabad, New York, etc.
f) in a car / taxi

At:

a) Before small places and villages (at Mehboobbad/ Mangalagiri, etc.)
b) before events / occasions (at the party / the wedding)
c) before places of activity: at college / at the meeting / the cinema (hall)

Since:

Since = from sometime in the past.
Before a point of time (Since 2013 / December / 5 O'clock, etc.)

For:

a) Over a certain period of time (for two years / for an hour etc.)
b) Kosam – This shirt is for Ramesh
c) On behalf of (He signed for the officer)
d) In support of ( I am for any good party)

By:

a) By the side of / next to (He is beside his friend)
b) Not later than (By 3 O'clock = before / at 3 O'clock)
c) Before the person who does something in the passive voice (It was
done by Ravi)

To:

a) Towards (in the direction of: He is moving towards the gate)
b) Destination
c) In the sense of doing something to somebody